Monday Football || Dodd's View

Coming off the heels of an impressive performance against Notre Dame, junior defensive end Kevin Dodd was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

He registered 3.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks, against the Fighting Irish. We caught up with Dodd on Monday after he met with members of the local media.

Q: How does it feel to be named ACC Defensive Lineman of the week?

Dodd: It is a huge honor and I give all of the credit to my coaches, people that believed in me and voted for me for this great honor.

Q: What is the biggest difference between this year’s defense and last year’s defense?

Dodd: I really don’t see any difference. We are just trying to be the best and finish in the top spot. The only difference I see right now is that they finished in the No. 1 spot in the country, and we are trying to get to that point. We just have to play hard and finish the rest of the season strong.

Dodd: I would place us top five. We are a really good threat, but I try to focus on just us and not with other people.

Q: What would you attribute your success to this season?

Dodd: I try not to be a one-dimensional guy. I try to be able to rush the passer, stop the run and be the go-to guy that can make plays.

Q: What was the most fun game that you’ve played in this season?

Dodd: Definitely Louisville. There is no better way to end the game than with a sack, that’s every defensive lineman’s dream.

Q: What was the atmosphere like playing in the rain against Notre Dame?

Dodd: It was challenging. There were a lot of things that held me back because of the rain, but there were also a lot of things we got done because of the rain. I’m sure everyone struggled with simple things, like staying on their feet. It was a fun game! It is crazy to think of all of the fans that were there supporting us. We appreciate them so much that they stood out in the rain for us, and even showed up. Coach Swinney told us the fans showed up, so we had to show up. It was an extra motivation to the team.